KZN SAPS Uncover Drug Operation Targeting Pupils in Lamontville

• KwaZulu-Natal police uncovered an alleged dagga cultivation laboratory operating opposite a high school in Lamontville, south of Durban
• Officers say the occupants were allegedly selling dagga to learners before a raid led to the discovery of a fully operational indoor grow setup
• Two suspects have been arrested and are set to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on 26 February 2026

DURBAN- Police in KwaZulu-Natal have uncovered an alleged dagga cultivation laboratory believed to be supplying drugs to school pupils in the Lamontville area, south of Durban.

According to Eyewitness News, the discovery was made during a raid conducted on a property situated opposite a local high school on Wednesday morning, 25 February 2026.

What happened?

KZN police officers had previously noticed suspicious activity at the premises. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Paul Magwaza said that. Entering the premises, further investigations revealed that the occupants of the house were allegedly selling dagga to learners. A fully operational indoor cultivation setup was also found inside the property.

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Two suspects were arrested at the scene and charged with dagga cultivation and dealing in dagga. They are expected to appear in the Durban Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

Police bust suspects in possession of R500 000 dagga

In a similar incident, police officers made two massive drug busts with a combined total of R1 140 000. One bust was made in Phoenix, near Durban, where police arrested three suspects in possession of R500 000 of dagga. Two females aged 24 and 47 were arrested after being found in possession of a large amount of dagga. A 35-year-old male suspect was also taken into custody. R640 000 worth of mandrax tablets was confiscated from two brothers in Bloemfontein a total of 8 000 tablets were seized.

Three Briefly News articles on drug busts

• In 2022, Indian authorities intercepted consignments of fresh fruit exported from South Africa that were found to contain an estimated R4.3 billion worth of cocaine and methamphetamine hidden among the produce. The discovery in shipments of apples, pears and other fruit sparked questions about how the drugs were concealed and whether organised criminal networks were exploiting export channels.
• Police in Mpumalanga have dismantled a clandestine crystal methamphetamine laboratory on a farm in Volksrust, seizing drugs and equipment valued at about R350 million after acting on a tip-off about suspicious activity. Officers arrested five foreign nationals, believed to be in the country illegally, along with the South African farm caretaker, while two other suspects escaped into nearby bushes.
• Limpopo SAPS arrested two foreign nationals, aged 34 and 42, on charges of drug possession and dealing after acting on actionable intelligence about drug deliveries in the community. Officers intercepted the men separately as they were allegedly preparing to distribute illicit substances with an estimated combined street value of about R65 000.

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Brazen cash-in-transit heist rocks Verulam, suspects escape with cash

Previously, Briefly News reported that a confidential South African Police Service report presented to Parliament reportedly identifies several alleged drug kingpins operating across the country, with Nigerian syndicates said to dominate much of the illicit narcotics trade. The document names key figures in provinces such as Gauteng, Free State, North West and Limpopo, while Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu‑Natal reportedly have predominantly local underworld leaders.

Source: Briefly News